Good Afternoon Folks, In the past few weeks we've been working on a promotional campaign with TABIA and Berners Bowie Lee (BBL) ad agency. BBL have donated their time to create the Buy Toronto Time campaign. The idea is to put a new spin on the Buy Local/Support Local messages that we've been using for the past year. The message in this campaign is: SMBs are the heartbeat of neighbourhoods. Let's rally people around these beloved businesses. By supporting them,…

Good Afternoon All, We've been notified by the City that they will be replacing the watermain on Broadview Avenue from Danforth to Gerrard. This work is scheduled to begin next Monday, May 10/21. Attached is a detailed information sheet from the City - please take a few minutes to read. I know this is the last thing anyone wants to have to deal with right now. We've had a couple of meetings already with the City and have stressed how…

Good Afternoon All, I have a few things for you today: Provincial Grant Second Payment We have heard that the Province has started to issue the second payments to those who applied for the Small Business Grant. If you were approved for the first payment then you will automatically receive a second payment which matches the amount of your first payment. As with all of these payments, it may take a couple of weeks to process into your accounts. If…

Good Afternoon All, The Federal Liberals presented their budget this afternoon. I want to share the following information which will be of importance to you, our business members - especially noting the proposed extension of the Wage Subsidy, Rent Subsidy and Lockdown support programs to September 25, 2021. Helping Hard-hit Businesses Hire More Workers Budget 2021 proposes to introduce the new Canada Recovery Hiring Program for eligible employers that continue to experience qualifying declines in revenues relative to before the…

Good Afternoon All, Here is a summary of the new restrictions announced late this afternoon by Premier Ford. As of 12:01am tomorrow - Saturday, April 17/21: 1. Stay at Home Order has been extended to 6 weeks. This takes us to mid-May. 2. All stores that currently allow in-store shopping (grocery, drug stores, LCBO) will have a 25% capacity - you must post the maximum number of customers allowed in at any given time. 3. Playgrounds, golf courses, basketball courts…

Good Afternoon All, Well..... as expected the Premier has moved the Province into our 3rd State of Emergency and has enacted the Stay At Home order which comes into effect at 12:01am tomorrow - Thursday, April 8/21 and will continue for one month (4 weeks). At the end of this email is the Provincial News Release which contains full details but I've pulled some key information as it pertains to our retail members: Effective Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 12:01…